Giant-killing Billingham Town must put the distraction of a silverware showdown to one side and get back to basics when they go lowly Morpeth in the Northern League.

Giant-killing Billingham Town must put the distraction of a silverware showdown to one side and get back to basics when they go lowly Morpeth in the Northern League.

Top flight trophy hunters Town turned over Unibond League big boys Gateshead to pull off a spirited 1-0 Bedford Terrace win in the semi-final of the Durham Challenge Cup.

Richie Storr got the winner that earned Town a mouth-watering clash at Durham City's New Ferens Park with Bishop Auckland.

Gateshead boss Paul Proudlock quit after the game, so his ex-Boro man Gary Gill is now in the hotseat with Steve Agnew helping out.

"It is fantastic to be in a cup final. It is great for the lads and it is great for the club," said Town boss Alan Robinson "But we can't afford to let that distract us from our league campaign.

"It should spur us on. It was easily our best display of the season and we have to try and reach that standard every week. I was proud of them all. If you were marking them they would all have got a minimum nine out of ten. It was magnificent.

"It keeps the season alive and gives us something to look forward to - but I don't want anyone going through the motions now.

"Its no good winning the big ones like that then slipping up in the bread and butter games.

"But if we go to places like Morpeth and play like that for the rest of the season we can still finish up there with the likes of Synthonia and Marske."

Town are three places and four points adrift of neighbours Synthonia in ninth but they have a useful three games in hand - although Teesside pacesetters Marske United and Guisborough Town are two points further ahead.

Marske could steal a march on their East Cleveland rivals if they can beat lowly Chester-le-Street at Mount Pleasant tomorrow.

The Seasiders moved level on points with sixth-placed Guisborough after their scrappy 1-0 Simon Kasonali reunion victory in a bad-tempered derby at the KGV last week.

But the Priorymen are without a fixture this week and if Marske, seventh and with two games in hand, can cash in then they will leapfrog Town.

And with Durham City in fifth round FA Vase action at home to St Neots, a Marske win could even nudge them into fifth place.

Marske are still without suspended striker Benn Thompson while midfielder Mark James has signed for Unibond League side Spennymoor.

Billingham Synthonia take on second bottom Newcastle Blue Star looking to get straight back to winning ways.

Synners six-match unbeaten run came to an end in midweek with a 2-1 home defeat to high-flying Dunston Fed.

"But we played well and created plenty of chances but were caught out by two superb strikes," said press officer Bernard Sayers.

"Our former striker Andy Fletcher always scores against us and this time it was a superb free-kick that Beckham would have been proud of."

Synners could go as high in the table as sixth if they win, although they have played more games than all their rivals.

They have Glen Corkain banned but David Baker returns after missing midweek.

Thornaby face a tough test of their revival when they travel to form-team West Auckland .

The strugglers ended their 11-game losing streak at home to Seaham then got a good point in a 2-2 draw away at high-flyers Whitley Bay.

Now they must raise their game again against the league's form side who have lost only twice - the last time in November to Bedlington.

"They are going very well," admitted assistant boss Neal Granycome. "But Mark Wheldon has given us the lowdown on his old team, we go there as underdogs and if we can play as well as we did at Whitley Bay then we can get something.

"Looking at the fixtures we could do with a bit of help from the neighbours too - they are all playing teams down there with us this week."

Thornaby have Michael Arnold back - and Trevor - while Stuart Ingram is fit again.

Second division Norton are looking to extend their unbeaten run when they take on fifth placed Esh Winning at home.

The Ancients are unbeaten in four and fought out a gritty goalless draw away at fourth-placed Easington last week.

Shot-shy Northallerton Town go to Crook looking to kick-start their faltering campaign.

Town have scored just once in six games and taken only three points in that run as they have slipped back from the promotion pack to ninth, although they have games in hand.